Unitary vehicle wheel rim protector

ABSTRACT

A wheel rim protective structure has a closed ring made of a semi-rigid durable plastic material. A plurality of spaced apart durable curved metal clips extend from the inner edge of the ring and are oriented to insert between the tire and rim. Each clip has a number of unidirectional barbs that facilitate installation but resist unwanted extraction by engaging the tire portion. Knurling on the opposite side provides more static friction against the wheel surface. The metal clips also provided a situs for a low profile fastener to allow other structures to be attached to the ring such as decorative panels, lights, flags streamers, or other decorative or counterbalancing structures. The ring and clips can be made from a unitary piece of injection molded material.

PRIOR APPLICATION

This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/786,727,filed May 25, 2010 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,147,004, issued Apr. 3, 2012,which is fully incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to motor vehicle accessories and more particularlyto devices for protecting and augmenting the appearance of automobiles.

BACKGROUND

Decorative automotive wheels for mounting tires have enjoyed recentpopularity. So called “alloy wheels” often feature distinctive designsand highly polished metal surfaces. Such wheels can be very expensive.The exposed circular outboard peripheral edge of the wheel, also knownas the “rim” is located to directly support the outboard circular innerbead of a tire. Thus the rim is positioned to inadvertently contact theraised curbs at the side of a road during a parking maneuver. Suchcontact can result in unsightly dents and scratches being formed on theexposed outer surface of the rim.

As disclosed in Hameed U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,212 (hereinafter “Hameed”), abroken plastic ring can be mounted to the wheel to act as a protectiveshield over the rim.

Unfortunately, such a device can suffer from some drawbacks. First, itcan be difficult to adequately secure the ring to the wheel. Hameedshows a flange portion (20 in FIG. 2) which extends axially inwardlybetween the tire and the wheel. So placing a layer of material betweenthe tire and wheel can lead to improper contact between the tire andwheel leading to deflation, and or slippage.

Further, the rigorous environment of automobile wheels can quickly wearplastic parts. Automotive wheels are often subjected to wide variationsin temperatures, pressures, strong centrifugal forces at high vehiclespeeds, shocks, water etc. Temperature variations can cause differentialexpansion or contraction between the wheel rim and a ring made from amaterial having a different coefficient of thermal expansion. Suchdifferences in expansion/contraction can lead to separations andmisalignments of the ring with respect to the wheel.

As disclosed in Gewecke, U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,684, an extruded flexibledecorative trim attachment can be secured to the wheel by deflating thetire to substantially atmospheric pressure in order to work the flexibleanchor portion into space between the tire and rim. Deflating the tirein this way is a task more suited to a mechanic in a professionalautomotive garage rather than a home user.

Both the Hameed and Gewecke devices are oblong extrusion-type structuresthat result in a break where the ends meet to form the ring. Thepresence of the break can lead to the formation of gaps, overlaps orbuckling which can be both unsightly and lead to the capturing of dirtor other fouling which reduces the protective ability of the device andcan lead to its dislodgement from the wheel.

Increasingly, automotive accessories are being installed by relativelyunskilled technicians or end users who may have little experience inmounting tires to wheels. Therefore, the device needs to be relativelysimple to install to ensure adequate and more consistent installation.

Therefore there is a need for a decorative wheel rim protector whichaddresses some or all of the above identified inadequacies.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the invention are to help provide an improveddecorative wheel rim protector device.

In some embodiments there is provided a detachable protective device forvehicle wheels, said device comprises: a substantially circular closedring having an axial outer surface and an axial inner surface; aplurality of angularly spaced apart clips extending inwardly from saidinner surface; wherein each of said clips comprises: an arcuate bodyhaving a first proximal portion secured to said ring, and a seconddistal portion shaped and dimensioned to be inserted between a wheel rimand a tire.

In some embodiments said ring is made from a substantially semi-rigidinjection moldable material and said clips are made from a durablemalleable material.

In some embodiments said injection-moldable material is selected fromthe group consisting of plastic, ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene),PVC (polyvinyl chloride), acetal, acrylic, nylon, phenylene oxide,polycarbonate, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polysulfone,styrene, urethane, and vinyl plastics and combinations and mixturesthereof.

In some embodiments said malleable material is selected from the groupconsisting of stainless steel and alloys thereof.

In some embodiments said distal portion has a first surface oriented tocontact said tire and an opposite second surface oriented to contactsaid wheel rim.

In some embodiments wherein said first surface comprises a firstsubstantially unidirectional friction-enhancing element.

In some embodiments said first surface comprises a barb structureoriented to resist extraction of said clip.

In some embodiments said second surface comprises a secondfriction-enhancing element.

In some embodiments said second friction-enhancing element comprisestexturing.

In some embodiments said outer surface is convex and said inner surfaceis concave.

In some embodiments said proximal portion is shaped and dimensioned tohave a first through hole engaged by an interconnect portion of saidring.

In some embodiments said device further comprises at least one fasteningelement oriented to releaseably secure a first attachment to said ring.

In some embodiments said proximal portion is shaped and dimensioned tohave a first threaded aperture.

In some embodiments said first attachment is selected from the groupconsisting of: mirrors, flags, streamers, light modules, reflectors,balancing weights, and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments said ring and said clips are formed integrally toone another from a common material.

In some embodiments there is provided that in the combination of avehicle wheel rim and a tire mounted thereon, and a detachableprotective device, wherein said device comprises: a substantiallycircular closed ring having an outer surface and an inner surface; aplurality of angularly spaced apart clips extending axially rearwardlyand inwardly from said inner surface; wherein each of said clipscomprises: an arcuate body having a first proximal portion secured tosaid ring, and a second distal portion inserted between said wheel rimand said tire.

In some embodiments the protector constitutes a novel ornamental designas shown in the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a decorative protector forattachment to a wheel rim according to an exemplary embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is an oblique view of the decorative wheel rim protector.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the decorative wheel rim protector of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a back view of the decorative wheel rim protector of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the decorative wheel rim protector of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional side view of the decorativeprotector attached to a wheel rim.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an embodiment of a mountingclip.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an alternate embodiment ofa mounting clip having a threaded bore and friction enhancing texturing.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of the clip of FIG. 8taken along line 9-9 showing the unidirectional friction-enhancing barband sawtooth texturing.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional side view of the decorativeprotector having a clip having a threaded bore for fastening a threadedattachment.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional side view of the decorativeprotector having a ring and clips made from a unitary piece of material.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawing there is shown in FIGS. 1-7 a decorativerim protector 1 having a substantially circular ring 2 from which extenda plurality of spaced apart mounting clips 3 located and oriented tomount the protector to the circumferential outer rim 4 of a vehiclewheel 5. Therefore, the ring has a diameter D substantially commensuratewith the diameter of the wheel rim.

The ring 2 can be formed from a unitary piece of inexpensive, durable,and readily moldable material such a durable rigid plastic. Candidatematerials include but are not limited to ABS (acrylonitrile butadienestyrene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride) acetal, acrylic, nylon, phenyleneoxide, polycarbonate, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene,polysulfone, styrene, urethane, and vinyl plastics to name a few. Inaddition the outer surface of the ring can be coated with a layer ofchrome, paint or other decorative and potentially protective material.

The ring can be injection molded rather than extruded so that the ringcan be made as a closed circle. In other words, the ring can be made tobe lacking a break which would be found in a non-closed circular ring.In this way the protector can be made to avoid the formation of anunsightly gap at the location of the break due to the ring having acircumference smaller than the circumference of the rim to which itattaches. Further, the absence of a break helps avoid unsightly bucklingof the ring where the two ends of a broken ring would join or overlapdue to the ring having a circumference larger than the circumference ofthe rim to which it attaches.

As shown in FIG. 6, the ring 2 has a generally arcuate cross-sectionalshape to create a substantially convex, rounded, outer, exposed surface10 and an opposite concave, rounded, inner surface 11 oriented to atleast partially rest against the peripheral outer flange 12 of a wheelrim 4. Further, the shape of the concave inner surface 11 can beselected to be substantially commensurate with the outer surface of theflange and thus allow for close nesting of the ring against the rimalong is point of contact for a firmer fit and thus greater protection.Most surfaces are rounded to avoid spaces where dirt can collect.

As described above, a plurality of mounting clips 3 are positioned in aspaced apart manner around the circumference ring 2 extendingsubstantially axially rearwardly and inwardly therefrom to engage thewheel rim. The clips can be evenly spaced apart to help maintainrotational balance of the protector. Although eight clips are shown, thedevice accommodates use of other numbers of clips depending on factorssuch as cost, clip width, and bonding strength desired between theprotector and the wheel rim.

As shown primarily in FIGS. 6 and 7, each mounting clip 3 has asubstantially rigid, generally arcuate sheet body 30 having a thicknessT of between about 1 millimeter and about 3 millimeter separating anarcuate, convex, top surface 31 from a substantially parallel arcuate,concave, bottom surface 32. The body has a first proximal portion 33 forbonding to the ring and an opposite distal portion 34 oriented, shapedand dimensioned for being inserted and held in place by friction betweena wheel rim 4 and a wheel mounted tire 6. The body can be made from aunitary piece of durable, rigid, and malleable material such as rolledand stamped stainless steel or rigid durable plastic.

The clips 3 can be precisely positioned and automatically bonded to thering 2 at the time it is formed. This is done by positioning the clipsso that their proximal portions 33 extend into the ring mold. Asmaterial is injected into the mold to form the ring body, the moltenmaterial courses through and fills a number of engagement holes 37 inthe clips. As the material solidifies, the material remaining in theholes form interconnects 38 which permanently fasten the clip to thering.

Each clip can be further adapted to provide a friction enhancingstructure 40 such as a number of barbs 41. The barbs are oriented toprovide a substantially unidirectional friction function discouragingextraction of the clip once it has engaged between the rim 4 and tire 6.The barbs can be formed by stamping the clips and simultaneously cuttinga substantially U-shaped channel through the sheet body from the topsurface through to the bottom surface to form a tongue 42 of materialwhich is bent outwardly toward the eventual location of the tirematerial. The end 43 of the tongue is this oriented to dig into the tirematerial more firmly as the clip is withdrawn thus restricting suchmotion. Alternately, one or more of the tongues can be bent inwardly toengage the wheel surface. Other friction enhancing structures known tothe art may also be used.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a clip 50 can be further adapted so that itstop surface 51 has unidirectional friction-enhancing structure such asbarbs 53 similar to that shown in the embodiment of FIG. 7, and itsbottom surface 52 has a texturing 54 (shown as a crosshatched shading inthe drawing) to enhance its friction with the wheel rim. A portion 55 ofthe top surface can be similarly or otherwise textured. Many types oftexturing can be used such as knurling, bumps, and/or divots. As shownin FIG. 9, the bottom surface 52 of the clip can be textured to have amore unidirectional friction function. Such a function can be providedby a texturing having a sawtooth cross-sectional structure 56.

As shown in FIG. 10, a clip 60 can be further adapted to provide meansfor fastening and unfastening various attachment items 61 to theprotector while it is secured to a wheel. Such items can include but arenot limited to reflectors, flags, streamers such as piñata-style coloredpaper or fabric pieces, light modules, and other decorative orutilitarian items such as wheel balancing weights or curb sensors.Fastening means can include each mounting clip being adapted to have athreaded bore 62 in alignment with a passageway 63 oriented to beengaged by a commensurately threaded bolt 64 extending from anattachment item 61. The passageway can extend beyond the distal side 66of the clip into a closed-ended well 67. The passageway preferably has aclosed distal end to reduce fouling and to prevent threaded bolts frompenetrating through the passageway to contact and potentially damage thewheel rim. The passageway can be made to have a diameter similar to thebore and be threaded in alignment with the bore. Alternately, thepassageway can be oversized to allow passage of the bolt withoutsubstantial engagement.

As shown in FIG. 11 the protector 70 can be made from a unitary piece ofmoldable material such as plastic. The protector has a ring portion 71similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1 and a number of clip portions 72formed integrally with the ring portion from a common material. In thisway the entire protector can be formed as a single piece in a singleinjection molding process. It should be noted that some post-moldingmachining can be used to form structures which are not readily moldable.In this embodiment a first barb 73 has a tongue portion 74 extendingsubstantially radially outwardly and axially rearwardly to engage thetire portion, and a second barb 75 has a tongue portion 76 extendingsubstantially radially inwardly and axially forwardly to engage the rimportion. The tongue portion of the second barb can be further adapted tohave a sharpened distal point 77 for better grabbing a surface on thewheel. Because of the different materials typically used for the wheelrim and the tire, a single clip can employ both a sharpened barb 75 anda non-sharpened barb 73 as shown.

While the exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described,modifications can be made and other embodiments may be devised withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A detachable protective device for vehicle wheels, said device comprises: a substantially circular closed ring having an axial outer surface and an axial inner surface; a plurality of angularly spaced apart clips extending inwardly from said inner surface; wherein each of said clips comprises: an arcuate body having a first proximal portion secured to said ring, and a second distal portion shaped and dimensioned to be inserted between a wheel rim and a tire. wherein said ring and said clips are formed integrally from a unitary piece of substantially semi-rigid injection moldable material.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said injection-moldable material is selected from the group consisting of plastic, ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), acetal, acrylic, nylon, phenylene oxide, polycarbonate, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polysulfone, styrene, urethane, and vinyl plastics and combinations and mixtures thereof.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein said clips are uniformly angularly spaced apart.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein said distal portion has a first surface oriented to contact said tire and an opposite second surface oriented to contact said wheel rim.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein said first surface comprises a first substantially unidirectional friction-enhancing element.
 6. The device of claim 4, wherein said first surface comprises at least one barb structure oriented to resist extraction of said clip.
 7. The device of claim 4, wherein said second surface comprises a second friction-enhancing element.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein said second surface comprises at least one barb structure oriented to resist extraction of said clip.
 9. The device of claim 7, wherein said second friction-enhancing element comprises texturing.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein said outer surface is convex and said inner surface is concave.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein said device further comprises at least one fastening element oriented to releaseably secure a first attachment to said ring.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein said at least one fastening element comprises a threaded aperture.
 13. The device of claim 11, wherein said first attachment is selected from the group consisting of: mirrors, flags, streamers, light modules, reflectors, balancing weights, and combinations thereof.
 14. The device of claim 1, wherein said body comprises a sheet having a thickness of between about 1 millimeter and about 3 millimeters.
 15. The combination of a vehicle wheel rim and a tire mounted thereon, and a detachable protective device, wherein said device comprises: a substantially circular closed ring having an outer surface and an inner surface; a plurality of angularly spaced apart clips extending axially rearwardly and inwardly from said inner surface; wherein each of said clips comprises: an arcuate body having a first proximal portion secured to said ring, and a second distal portion inserted between said wheel rim and said tire; and, wherein said ring and said clips are formed integrally from a unitary piece of substantially semi-rigid injection moldable material. 